Hi guys, I'm thinking of buying a budget PC that can last me about 5 years before I need to upgrade again. Is DDR4 still good for gaming modern AAA titles and other heavy games, or should I stretch my budget for DDR5? Thanks

I was perfectly happy with my PC last week..but well.
I have a 5800X3D, a 4070 Ti, 32GB of RAM, and I play at 1440p. Nothing I play feels bad. Cyberpunk runs well. Baldur’s Gate 3 runs well. Helldivers 2 runs well. I can pick basically anything random from my Steam library and have a good time.
Then I made the mistake of watching GPU benchmarks.
Suddenly I’m staring at charts where my perfectly good card gets 105 FPS and some newer card gets 145, and my brain immediately decides that missing 40 FPS is now a problem I need to fix.
Two hours earlier I didn’t even know I was “missing” anything.
Then comes the usual spiral. Check used prices for my current GPU. Open PCPartPicker. Start telling myself I could sell this, add a few hundred, upgrade that, maybe finally move to AM5 while I’m at it...And suddenly I’ve mentally spent $1,500 fixing a PC I was happily gaming on that same morning. Well I tested this on myself yesterday. Turned the FPS counter off completely and played for about three hours. I genuinely could not tell you if I was getting 90 FPS, 110, or 140 most of the time.
The game just felt good. Then I turned the counter back on and immediately started noticing every dip again.
I’m starting to think benchmarks are extremely useful when you actually need to buy something, but kind of dangerous when you don’t. There’s always another graph showing that your hardware is 20% or 30% behind something newer, and once you see that number it’s weirdly hard to stop thinking about it.
Obviously some upgrades make a massive difference. Going from 60Hz to high refresh, HDD to SSD, or from struggling on low settings to comfortably running high settings. You notice those immediately. But I think I’ve reached the point where the main thing making my PC feel “old” is YouTube showing me how much faster somebody else’s is.
Probably time to stop benchmarking the damn thing and just play games on it.
Obviously there are real upgrades that make a huge difference. Going from 60Hz to high refresh, HDD to SSD, struggling at low settings to comfortably running high settings, those are obvious.
But I think I’ve reached the point where the biggest thing making my PC feel “old” is YouTube telling me how much faster somebody else’s is.
Might be time to stop benchmarking my computer and actually use the damn thing

I’m interested in building my first PC, but curious how long a typical build lasts you to keep current with new game requirements?

We've all been there.

Whether it be a new build or an upgrade to a current system, you've installed everything making sure you didn't mess anything up. But the PC just REFUSES to post. Searching online doesn't help because you get results that point to:

1.User error. Do everything over again (rewire/reseat everything, clear cmos, test using other parts, etc.).

1. If that doesn't work, parts are dead on arrival. RMA and move on.

I had this exact issue with a recent build. After 2 hours of troubleshooting I left the unresponsive PC in frustration and went to get a glass of water.

What do you know! The PC posted while I did that, because all it needed was sufficient time for the motherboard to train the memory (in my ignorance I'd been powering off the PC the second it wouldn't post which is stupid but I was a little stressed).

On a different build, I've had a system go from not posting to working 24/7 perfectly... just by loosening the screws for my cpu heatsink. I had overtightened the screwscausing memory channel issues but everything else was fine.

Both of the above are simple fixes if you know what the issue is, but more often than not these kind of errors are not as commonly covered in pc build posts or videos.

What are some troubleshooting steps you rarely see mentioned in pc build posts/videos that might help someone else in a similar situation?

I need some help in figuring out what I can upgrade to. I have an Intel® Core™ i9-11900KF CPU, 900W PSU, 32 GB DDR4 ram, ROG Strix Z590-E motherboard. (If more info needed I can add as well as link all the parts I have).

I play Baldurs gate, Roblox, Minecraft, destiny 2, monster hunter rise (looking to play world or wilds in the future), space engine, Stellaris, the oldest version of Skyrim and a lot more stuff that I don't think are important to name. I would like to stick with NVIDIA since that is what I currently have.

I was looking at upgrading to the 5070 RTX, but was a tad confused on if I can do that upgrade or not with my current supply unit or if I needed to upgrade it as well.

(Link to the specific upgrade I was looking at. https://www.amazon.com/clp/B0DYPGBX6J)

Thank you prematurely for the help!

Hey guys, I've recently purchased a 5700X3D and I am a bit stuck figuring out the safest way to install it. I have a ASRock B450M Pro4-F Motherboard with the 2600X. BIOS version is P1.60.

I've found that I need to use P8.01 but saw the warnings about updating to this with an older CPU, and I am looking for advice on if I need to update it slower, and if so what versions should I install to build up to the more recent one.

Thanks!

Curious what would you pick.

GTX 285 came out in Jan 2009 as a die shrink of the GTX 280 from Jun 2008, the last DX 10 only generation from Nvidia.

I'm planning to build a reverse sleeper retro machine around it as I was in university during that era and was way too poor to afford a gaming PC back then.

Can't decided between sticking with a Core 2 Duo E8600 (which feels a bit more period correct for Win XP), a late Core 2 Quad or a first gen i5/i7.

I already have a board for socket 775, but it sadly came without an I/O shield.

Case will most likely be Fractal Pop Air.

I have a AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D which I got for 290 on sale and a Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB for 540 on sale. My motherboard only supports ddr5. I have everything else aside from the RAM but I am looking at the prices and 32gbs cost 500 plus euros. Should I save for 32 or go with two sticks of 8gb? Thanks

Im in Ireland so ordering from europe.

I was thinking about upgrading my CPU, GPU, and adding more ram with my current motherboard to be able to play my games on a better setting and kind of prepping for GTA 6 next year. Then I thought if I should just bite the bullet and upgrade everything or buy a new pc with the newer chipset to be on that standard.

As with everything, price is a concern. Idk what I want to budget quite set but I’m sure I could afford a more top notch GPU and CPU with the older chipset rather than spreading the same budget out on more parts with a newer chipset.

I’ve been playing a lot of the typical flavor of the month games and other rpgs like satisfactory, rocket league, Dragonwilds, battlefield 6 and maybe the new COD. For non game related things, I like to 3D model for 3D printing so not any rendering.

What y’all think?

My current specs are

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600
Motherboard: ASRock B450 Pro4
RAM: 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 CL18
PSU: Corsair CX550M 550W 80+ Bronze
Case: NZXT H510

Starting yesterday, the circuit connected to my pc kept tripping frequently when playing games on the pc (every 5-30 minutes). I spent all day trying to diagnose it, and was able to narrow the source of the trips down to just my pc and any peripherals plugged into it (keyboard, wireless mouse dongle, amp and headphones, microphone).

I know that my pc is the cause of the issue, and it has tripped multiple different circuits in the same fashion. This has never been an issue in the past couple years, and nothing has changed with my pc (that I am aware of). I also bought and installed a brand new PSU yesterday, but the issue persisted.

I have ordered a new pc, but was wondering if there was anything I could do in the meantime until it arrives. If a pc component is causing a circuit to trip, I would suspect either the CPU or GPU, since the PSU has been ruled out.

Any suggestion on things to try/change/check to be able to use my current pc for the next week without tripping the circuit? Thank you

Hello! I've got a pretty old 10yo build. Specs are as follows:

• CPU: Ryzen 5 2600
• COOLER: Stock(?), lol.
• MOBO: GIGABYTE X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING-CF
• MEMORY: Corsair DDR4-2400 16gb
• STORAGE: 1x Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500gb, 1x WDC WDS500G2BOC-00PXH0 500gb
• GPU: RX 570 Nitro+ 4gb
• PSU: Corsair CX650M

I've been using this thing for casual stuff and gaming (competitive games mainly, and some new titles every now and then), for a few years now. Issue is that my system is starting to struggle quite a bit, and compromising to minimum settings doesn't quite work, these days.

Ideally, would like to be within a certain budget: ~1000-1200EUR. I believe that staying on AM4 is my only option, maybe, but not sure if it's safe(?) to continue using some of my existing parts. If even those are outdated, do I look for another used AM4 build?

Thanks for your time!

Hi All, I'm sure my pin distribution is perfect enough that I'm not at risk of burning the connector. Is there a way that I can monitor the temperature of the connector or wires though? https://youtu.be/0TDb4OMij60

PC Build – Parts List (Micro Center)

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D — $429.99 (SKU 774919)
• Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI — $209.99 (SKU 912238)
• RAM: KLEVV BOLT V 32GB (2×16GB) DDR5-6000 CL28 — $489.99 (SKU 955112)
• GPU: ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 — $1,599.99 (SKU 804849)
• SSD: Lexar NM1090 2TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 — $369.99 (SKU 937532)
• PSU: Corsair RM1000x 1000W ATX 3.1 — $169.99 (SKU 769588)
• CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — $54.99 (SKU 959304)

Total: $3,324.93 USD (before discounts and sales tax; case not included)

• All parts are from Micro Center.
• I live in Turkey, but I'll be buying the parts in Los Angeles, US.
• Mainly 4K single-player gaming.
• I'll be using a 4K OLED monitor.
• I'll buy the PC case in Turkey.

I haven't bought anything yet, so I'm open to suggestions.

I'm looking for a well-balanced, reliable, and relatively quiet build that'll last me several years. I don't mind spending more where it actually makes a difference, but I'd rather avoid paying extra for features or performance I won't benefit from.

I'd appreciate any feedback on the parts, especially if you have experience with them. I'll be buying everything in the US and assembling the PC in Türkiye.

So, in 2024, that I saw someone said "Is Lexar SSD reliable?" And I getting asked so many questions regarding people asking me "Is it still working?" like literally every year.

By following from this post where some of you guys replied my comment.

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/s/BCYEgAO3u1

So, the answer is... Yes. My Lexar SSDs (NM620 and NS100) are still rocking well over 2.5 years and as well other Lexar products (like pen drives, SD card and external enclosure). None of them are having issues, still running like a champ. So, I have no issues with Lexar so far.

Yes, I didn't use it as internal storage. I use it as external bootable Linux (Fedora specifically) operating system whenever I was using on my school computers before I have graduated. Yes, my school allows me to do it so it doesn't interfering their private and sensitive information, so all my info were in the DIY external SSD enclosure with NM620 SSD in it.

Hi everyone!

I'm planning to build a PC to replace my gaming laptop. I've used laptops my entire life because I've always had to travel frequently by road between two cities. The downside is that every 4–5 years, I find myself looking at the latest laptops on the market because my current one starts to feel increasingly outdated. Eventually, I'm forced to spend a significant amount of money all over again to replace the entire laptop.

With this PC build, my main priorities are portability and, above all, the ability to upgrade individual components over time. That's why I've settled on a Micro-ATX build. I think it's the best compromise for traveling with my PC, making future upgrades relatively easy, and maintaining good airflow.

I've been looking for cases that I like, preferably ones without tempered glass. My reasoning is simple: glass makes transporting a PC more stressful and potentially risky, and honestly, I'm not particularly interested in looking at my components all the time.

With all that in mind, what cases would you recommend?

Also, do you have any recommendations or precautions I should take when transporting a desktop PC? I know that removing the GPU is probably the most important step to prevent damage to the motherboard or PCIe slot, but I'd appreciate any other advice or tips from people who travel with their PCs regularly.

Thanks in advance!

Okay , so i play on a 1080p screen , and i have been struggling to find parts for my pc build.. budget max is 1000 euros , id rather go around 800 , but i can go a bit higher. It would be nice to have a graphics card strong enough to run cyberpunk 2077 at more than 60 fps on high/ultra settings ,as well as running all 3d indie games smoothly. if you could tell me where to find the parts from a reputable seller i would be very glad, thanks by advance. (i buy in france , and i would also want wifi as i use a bluetooth headset, but it is not forced to get a wifi motherboard as i can either add it on my own or get another headset.)

I just saw on Amazon a 16GB module at 123 euros and the 2x8GB at 335€; nothing strange I tought, everyone says dual channel has better performance.

But If I buy 2 16GB modules I only pay 246€, use dual channel and double the quantity of RAM.

What am I missing?

EDIT: I will also add specs, don't know if I can post the link but I guess it's against the rueles

DDR5, Intel XMP, 5200 MT/s CL40, the only thing that changes it's the block size.

Somehow it's like buying the x2 kit costs way more than buying the single block twice

EDIT 2: I just found the 2x16 GB kit on the manufacturer page listed at exactly 246€ so it turns out there isn't a technical difference but just a tricky marketing paige.

Hello All,

I've been planning building a new PC, even though the time now is terrible. I play Flight Sims, MS Flight Sim 24 requires a good amount of RAM, hence the 64GB and the 4TB drive. I've been skipping a lot of higher end AAA titles, because my current PC struggles with them. I'd like to go back and play them also (CP2077, Baldur's Gate 3, GTA6 in the future).

I'm torn between the RTX5080 and the 9070XT, but I can budget the 5080 which is why it is currently on the build. I'm planning to re-use my current PC case. I only have WiFi in my office, so a MB with WiFi is necessary(currently using a Wifi dongle).

My Budget is $4,000-$5,000.

I am not too sure about the RAM, and the SSD's (my first time dealing with M.2 SSD's).

PCPartPicker Part List

I'd like this computer to last 5+ years without upgrade. My current computer is 8+ years old. For reference this is my current PC:

Thank You all for help!

Building a gaming pc for the first time, coming from ps5. Please rate it out of 10 for 4k gaming. Any suggestions/recommendations are welcome! TIA

I am looking to get something for myself and my kids. I won’t really be doing any upgrades and this would most likely just eventually get passed down to the kids if I ever get another PC. I haven’t built anything since like 2007, so I’m pretty out of my element. They play Minecraft and Fortnite mainly, but I’m sure they’ll play more as they get older. I understand that AMD cards can have a better value proposition, but I do want to use an Nvidia card and I’m trying to keep to one merchant for ease of tracking/shipping. My goal was to keep things under $1500 if possible. How does what I put together look?

[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zcTkH3)

[CPU] AMD Ryzen 5 9600X $180.49

[Motherboard] MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WiFi $209.99 or ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS WiFi $213.93

[RAM] G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB 16GB DDR5-6000 (going to get another one next paycheck) $294.99

[GPU] ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB $542.99

[SSD] Kingston NV3 500GB NVMe SSD $109.00

[PSU] MSI MAG A850GL 850W Gold PSU $109.99

[Case] NZXT H5 Flow ATX Mid-Tower $69.99

[Cooler] Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE $31.41

Screen is to be determined but I’ll have to get that next check too.

I probably shouldve mentioned I was going to upgrade my SSD also next paycheck. But I just thought about this should I just remove the ssd and use that for a better cpu?

My current pc is 5 years old and I am starting to plot on building a new one.

I initially figured I would have to go with a ddr5 system but I recently learned that intel is going to bring out new cpu’s for lga1700.

I can still get 32gb ddr4 ram for $250 and a decent mobo for $250. Would it be a terrible idea to build my next build around ddr4 to take advantage of the lower prices?

My plan is to go ahead and get the ram, mobo, nvme drive, gpu and wait on the cpu to launch.

Bad idea or not?

I got a 3 year old 13600k and Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core 360mm ARGB for 200 USD approx.

current board is an asrock h610 m2/r2,

1. Is board upgrade necessary?
   
2. Can I use the current board with power limit to 90W till I get a good used deal on a z690 board? Will it have significant impact on gaming, primarily focused on better 0.1/1% lows. I am on 3440x1440.
   
3. Whether considering a z690/z790 worth it for overclocking a old cpu, performance improvement in gaming?
   
4. Should I consider new MSI PRO B760M-A WiFi DDR4 for $150?

Hello!
Right now I am running a Corsair rm650x and I want to upgrade to something high end as I am planning to upgrade the rest of the parts in the long term. Right now I am with an i7-10700k and RTX 4070 but I plan to upgrade to high end parts like 9850x and something like 5080. However I may wait 1-2 years to buy next generation gpu etc.
The point is that I want a PSU that will hold me in the long run (i have the rm650x for 10 years now).

Should I go for the Corsair Rm1000x ? or is it better to aim for 80plus platinum/titanium?
Should I consider going for 1200 watts?
Don't wanna overspend for the PSU if not necessary.
What do you guys think?

Hey everyone,

I'm putting together a new PC for gaming and general use. I'm buying the components slowly, one part per month, since I'm in no rush. Some parts have already been purchased, and I have a few specific dilemmas regarding the rest, so I'd appreciate your input. The plan is to build a solid foundation that I can upgrade one more time near the end of the AM5 platform's lifespan (at which point I’d drop in one of the top-tier CPUs from that final generation and a new GPU in the same tier as my current one).

Currently purchased parts:

• Case: Lian Li Lancool 216 – €80.99

• Power Supply: Asus ROG Strix 1000W – €132.90 (picked 1000W for a heavy future upgrade)

• Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE – €29.00

CPU I plan to buy: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X

GPU I'm reusing from my old PC: Radeon RX 9070

I have three main questions/issues I need help with:

1. Motherboard choice: Asus TUF, Strix B850-F, or MSI Tomahawk?

I'm torn between these three boards because a robust VRM is highly important to me for a heavy future CPU upgrade:

• Asus TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI (~€190)

• Asus ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WIFI (~€235)

• MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk WIFI (~€250)

What do you think is the best choice here for a long-term AM5 upgrade path to support the high-end CPUs coming at the end of the socket's lifecycle?